Amendments

In March 2026, this chapter was refreshed.

In March 2026, this chapter was updated and the word harm replaces injury in the text. Links to additional guidance were revised and updated.

In March 2026, Section 8.6, Where the Advice from the Guardian and the Local Authority assessment are fundamentally different in relation to the safety and best interests of a child was added to the chapter in line with practice guidance issued jointly by Cafcass and the ADCS.

In March 2026, this chapter was refreshed and should be re-read. In Further Information, a link was added to the Transitional Safeguarding Briefing for Sector Leaders: Strategic Briefing (Research in Practice).

This chapter was refreshed in March 2026.

In March 2026, this chapter was updated to include information on Section 49 A of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and the legal duty of Operation Encompass.

This chapter was revised in September 2025. The Government guidance ‘Report the death or serious harm of a child or care leaver’ has been updated to provide the information needed when reporting incidents involving children who have died or been seriously harmed, and abuse or neglect is known or suspected, including looked-after children and care leavers. The Serious Incident Notification Guide for local authorities has been added to this chapter.

In September 2025, information was added from How Local Authorities Can Help Young Carers (Ofsted Blog), and additional resources were added to Further Information.

In September 2025, in Section 2.1, Additional Considerations Where a Child Has Multiple Needs, information was added about how to access pre-application advice on caring for children with complex needs (Ofsted). If you are thinking about opening a children’s social care service for children with complex needs.

In September 2025, information was added to Section 1, from Good decisions: supporting children aged 16 and 17 who need help when they are homeless - GOV.UK, and a section was added around Domestic Abuse and Homelessness.